Inter edge Chelsea 2-1 after thrilling first leg

Inter battled to a 2-1 win over an impressive Chelsea to hold a slight advantage after their Champions League last-16 first leg at the San Siro last night.

Home striker Diego Milito netted on three minutes when he easily turned John Terry and fired in at the near post from six metres, prompting little reaction from Inter's former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho who had promised not to celebrate.

The Londoners dominated a thrilling game for long spells and Salomon Kalou deservedly equalised on 51 minutes with a 20-metre shot before Esteban Cambiasso soon put the hosts back ahead after his first shot was blocked.

Visiting keeper Petr Cech was carried off on a stretcher in the second half with a suspected knee injury but Carlo Ancelotti, who spent eight years at the San Siro as Milan coach, will be confident of turning the tie around in the second leg on March 16.

Just like rivals Milan in their defeat by Manchester United on the same pitch last week, Serie A champions Inter got off to a good start.

Thiago Motta threaded the ball forward and Samuel Eto'o miscontrolled it before strike partner Milito confirmed his excellent form this season by cutting in from the left and beating Cech at the near post.

Chelsea's heads failed to drop despite the vast roar from the Inter crowd and they were soon troubling keeper Julio Cesar, playing despite being shaken in a car crash early this week.

A Michael Ballack piledriver forced the Brazilian into his best save and Didier Drogba rattled the bar with a vicious free-kick.

Kalou, included on the left with Florent Malouda employed at left-back, then had a strong shout for a penalty turned down on the stroke of half-time after a challenge by Walter Samuel five metres out.

The Ivorian had his reward after 51 minutes when Julio Cesar failed to stop his curling shot through a crowd of players.

Argentine Cambiasso then grabbed the winner, blasting in at the second attempt from the edge of the box.

In the night's other match, Sevilla became favourites to progress to the quarter-finals after holding CSKA Moscow to a 1-1 draw in Russia.

Alvaro Negredo put the Spaniards in front after 25 minutes, taking advantage of CSKA's defensive miscue to tap the ball in from a Jesus Navas cross.

The hosts equalised through Chile winger Mark Gonzalez, who caught Sevilla keeper Andres Palop off-guard with a long-range strike in the 66th minute.

The Spaniards, most of them in thermal underwear, were bracing themselves for sub-zero temperatures following a severe cold front that swept through Moscow last week but the weather was relatively mild for the time of the year, hovering at around zero degrees Celsius at kick-off.

CSKA, playing their first competitive match in more than two months after a prolonged winter break, had a territorial edge for most of the game but with playmaker Alan Dzagoyev sidelined with a groin injury they lacked the final pass.

Japanese newcomer Keisuke Honda was one of the most active players for the home team in the first half, testing Palop with several long-range drives. Honda also came close with a header shortly after the restart.

Sevilla, missing striker Luis Fabiano and winger Diego Capel with injuries, were content to sit back but capitalised on their first real chance, Negredo showing his deadly finish.

He nearly scored again midway through the second half when CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeyev spilled his low free-kick from 20 metres.

But a couple of minutes later, Gonzalez levelled the score thanks to Palop's blunder to give his team a fighting chance in the return leg in Sevilla on March 16.

Palop then turned from villain to hero when he made a reflex kick save from CSKA forward Tomas Necid with time running out.